Everton great Mick Lyons has paid a moving tribute to his big mate Andy King, who has died from a heart attack aged 58.

Evertonians the world over were shocked to learn of the sudden death of King from a heart attack.

And none more so than his former captain Lyons, who was holding back tears at his home in Perth, Western Australia, as he paid tribute to the Goodison crowd favourite.

“He was mad but in a great way, he was always the life and soul,” Lyons said of the former Everton front man.

“When he joined us from Luton we immediately became good mates and we looked after each other. We were room mates together and I ended up being best man at his wedding.

“He got on with everyone. He was so bubbly and he just had this big smile. My two big mates at Everton were Terry (Darracott) and Kingy. It’s just very sad.”

Lyons said King’s Park End screamer against Liverpool in 1978, which ended a seven-year wait for a derby win, cemented his place in the hearts of all Blues fans.

“He was a great lad but more than anything he was a great player,” said Lyons.

“The fans loved him already but especially after he scored the winner against Liverpool. They worshipped him then.”

Injury meant Lyons missed that famous game but King’s goal still gave him a lasting memory.

“I lost my watch that day, the watch my mum bought me for my 18th birthday,” he said. “I was injured so watched the game from the bench. I ran on the pitch to celebrate and got mobbed and ended up losing the watch.

“He’d always go off on something or other and we’d just laugh because it was Kingy and tell him to give over.

“On one occasion I was giving him a lift home after training. He got me to stop at the bookies. We went in and the girl behind the counter said, ‘Oh, Andy, you’re not having a bet today are you?’. He was a terrible gambler, and the funny thing was he opened a bookies after he stopped playing.”

King was sold to QPR in 1980 but returned to Everton two years later.

“He never wanted to leave but was so happy to come back,” said Lyons, who was inducted into the hall of fame as an Everton ‘Great’ at last week’s player of the year awards ceremony.

“I just remember him as a top lad and a great mate. The last time I saw him was when me, him and Terry caught up about two years ago and went and watched Everton reserves at Southport.

“I’ve got so many great memories of him, he was such a great fella and someone who just made me laugh. He was my big mate.